Steam-boiler



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

F PROX STEAM BOILER.

No. 521,812. Patented June 26, 1894.

| I i l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P PROX STEAM BOILER.

(No Model.)

No. 521,812. Patented June 26, 1894.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

P. PROX.

STEAM BOILER. No. 521,812. Patented June 26,1894.

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FRANK PROX, OF TERBE HAUTE, INDIANA.

STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Iatent No. 521,812, dated June 26, 1894.

Application filed March 23, 1894. Serial No. 50 |776- (N modeland are designed more particularly for fur-v nishing steam at low pressure, or hot water, forheating purposes.

The object of my improvementis, to form a boiler from a series of similar communicatinghollow plates, so constructed and arranged as to present a large amount of heating surface, and produce an extended circulation of the products of combustion, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4:, represent plans of file several sections composing the boiler. Fig. 5'represents a sectionat a Fig. 3. Fig. 6' represents a section at b Fig.2. Fig. 7 represents'a central vertical section of the complete boiler, on'a plan extending from front to rear. Fig 8 represents a vertical section taken at right angles to the plane of the section shown in Fig. 7, at the line -a Fig. 3. Fig. 9, represents a vertical section of a modified form of the boiler, two plates being shown, and the section being taken at the line -c- Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2, indicates a hollow base, semi-circular on one side, and straight on its other sides, and carrying in its upper surface a series of grate-bars, 3, said base forming a support for the boiler-plates, and an ash-pit for the furnace. V

The lowermost plate, 5, (Fig 1) of the boiler, consists of a hollow casting forming an annular chamber, 6, of the same general outline as the base, but smaller in diameter, and having vertical walls, said annular chamber forming a passage communicating with chambers 7-, and 8,.formed inthe angles of the straight sides of the plate, and a third chamber, 9, formed midway of'the semi-circular portion of the casting. Chambers 7, 8, and 9 are closed. on their under sides but are each provided on theirupper sides with an opening,

that class of steam' 5, is mounted on the base so as to include and surround the surface covered by the gratebars 3. The second plate, 13, consists of a hollow annular casting corresponding in outline to the first plate, and having the three chambers, 7, 8, and 9, similarly arranged, and provided in both their upper and under surfaces with openings which register with the ,openings 10 of the lower plate. Said chambers areconnected by an annular passage, 14, having vertically inclined converging walls. 7 front-side of plate 13, to forma portion of the furnace door-way. -A plan of plate-13, is shown in Fig. 2, and a transverse section in Fig. 6. The next plate, 16, is identical in An opening, 15, is formed in the shape and construction with plate 5, except sponding openings in plate 13. Extending across the open space included by the inner walls of chamber-17', is a series of hollow bars 18, which are tapered vertically from the center upward and downward, so as to prevent the 1 accumulation of soot and ashes thereon.

A plan of plate 16 is shown in Fig. 3, and a transverse section in Fig. 5. Arranged above the plate 16 is a series of similar plates, each alternate plate being supplied with three cross-bars alternating in position with the two cross-bars of the other like plates, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. 'In the uppermost plate of this series, 19, the inner annular chamber 20, is made but about one half the height of the upper chamber, so as to permit the products of combustion to pass over the upper'edges offthe chamber.

; The crown-plate,'21, consists of a hollow casting of the same exterior outline as the other plates, and communicating interiorly therewith,and having in its upper side a central opening, 22, through which the steam or hot water is discharged.

The base, the series of boiler-plates, and the crown-plate, are firmly secured together by means of bolts, 23, which pass from top to bottom through the openings in chambers 7, 8, and 9, by means of which communication is established between the interiors of the several plates.

An outer casing, 24, of the same general "outline as the boiler-plates, but of larger diameter, incloses the whole series of plates, and forms an annular chamber, 25, surrounding the edges of the plates on all sides. The semicircular portion of said chamber is divided into two partsby means of a horizontal bafileplate, 26, which is placed between two of the boiler plates The upper portion of said annular chamber is provided with a discharge pipe 27, for the escape of the products of combustion.

It will be observed that plates 5 and 13 form the walls of the combustion-chamber, 28, and that the spaces, 29, (Fig. 8) between the inner and outer annular chambers of the plates like 16, form, when placed together in series, vertical fines through which the products of combustion pass downward. The crown-plate 21, is provided with incloscd openings, 30, arranged immediately above the flues 29, so that access may be had to said fines for the purpose of cleaning them.

In operation, the several plates having been filled with water, except a small portion of the crown-plate, the products of combustion rising from the combustion chamber 28, are compelled by the inclined inner walls of plate 13 to pass upward through the space included by the inner annular chambers of plates 16; which products of combustion on striking the crown-plate are turned downward over the top of the annular chamber 20 and pass downward through the fines 29 until they strike the outer inclined walls of plate 13, by which they are deflected outward into the annular space 25 whence they pass forward and up' ward over the bafile-plate 26, and out through the discharge pipe, 27. A portion of the products of combustion is deflected forward over the front edge of chamber 20, and passes directly into the upper part of chamber 25, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The tapering form and the arrangement of the hollow bars 18 permit a free circulation of the products'of combustion and prevent the accumulation of soot and ashes.

For the purpose of facilitating the delivery of steam from the several plates, when the boiler is used more especially for generating steam, I employ the modification illustrated in Fig. 9, in which the openings connecting the plates are provided with short open tubes, 31, which extend nearly, but not quite, to the opposite side of the interior of the plate, those tubes in the openings in the corner chambers,

7 and 8, being turned upward, while those in chambers 9 are turned downward, the effect being to produce a free escape of steam as the Water circulates upward through the corner chambers, and a free circulation of the cooler water downward through the chambers 9.

I claim as my invention- 1 1. In a boiler, a series of sections arranged one above the other, each of said sections consisting of a hollow plate forming two communicating annular chambers of dilferent diameters arranged concentrically with an open space between them, the space between the inner sides of the smaller chambers forming a flue for the products of combustion from a furnace arranged beneath said sections, said inner sides being connected by hollow bars which cross said flue and communicate with the interior, and which have side walls which converge from their horizontal centers upward and downward, substantially as set forth.

2. In a boiler, the combination of the lower hollow plate forming a single annular chamber which is substantially rectangular in cross section, and a second hollow plate arranged above the first and forming an annular chamber of substantially the same size and outline on its under side as the annular chamber of the first plate, but having inner and outer walls which converge concentrically toward its upper side, thereby forming an annular chamber which is rhomboidal in cross section, the interiors of both plates communicating through suitable registering openings, and the combined plates forming a combustion chamber having hollow walls and a contracted central opening for the escape of the pro ducts of combustion, as set forth.

3. In a boiler, the combination of a hollow plate forming an annular chamber which is substantially rectangular in cross section, a second hollow plate forming an annular chamber of substantially the same size and shape as the annular chamber of the first plate, at one side, and having inclined converging walls substantially as set forth, whereby a combustion chamber incloscd by hollow walls the upper part of which converge toward the axis of the chamber, is formed, a series of hollow plates arranged above said combustion chamber and forming two communicating annular chambers of different diameters arranged concentrically with an open space between them, the inner sides of the smaller chamber forming an incloscd space of substantially the same diameter as the interior of the combustion chamber at its smallest part, said incloscd spaces forming an upward line for the products of combustion, and said open spaces between the annular chambers forming downward flues communicating with said upward fine, the interiors of the several plates all communicating with each other through suitable registering openings, a crown-plate covering the top of the several flues, and an incloscd casing forming with IIO the outer edges of the boiler plates an annuand extending partly across the interior of lar chamber for the passage of the products the plates, substantially as and for the pur- [O of combustion, all arranged to co-operate subpose set forth. stantially as set forth. I

4. In a boiler, the combination with two or FRANK PROX' more hollow'plates having several registering Witnesses: openings connecting the interior of the plates, 0. B. HOUSTON,

of a series of tubes arranged in said openings HERMAN O. PROX. 

